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Bob Aldons, Founder of Car Business, a multi-dimensional automotive company that aims to help you to buy your new car for a better price than you can do on your own joins Enterprise Radio. Bob Aldons has been in the car business for over 38 years starting as a sales cadet and becoming the owner of a multi-franchise, multi-million dollar car dealership.
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Listen to interview with host Eric Dye & guest Bob Aldons discuss the following:
- How much money do car dealers actually make in Australia?
- How do I buy a new car cheaper?
- What’s the best way to get more for my current car?
- Should I take dealer car finance?
- What about dealer service vs independents?
Born in Sri Lanka and educated at Stafford State School and St Pauls School Bald Hills in Brisbane, Bob Aldons first worked locally as a trainee underwriting officer with MLC Fire and General Insurance Company. However, after 18 months in the position, he decided to leave that company and start a career path in sales when he completed a training course with Jonathan Ascot P/L. Finishing the course a short time later he was placed with the Express Newspaper (A News Limited Publication) at their Redcliffe branch becoming their youngest sales executive at 19 years of age.
On December 16th 1977 Rupert Murdoch decided to close the Express Group in Queensland and Bob found himself out of work, with no real prospect on the horizon. On visiting one of his clients, Torque Ford, to advise of the closure of the local paper, one of the owners, Bryan Wood, suggested he apply for a Fleet sales position with their Strathpine branch run by Branch Manager, Peter Conder.
On February 16th 1978 Bob started with Torque Ford and gradually built his portfolio of fleet and private clients before being transferred back to their head office at Redcliffe in late 1978. From there his business acumen and experience developed being awarded several prestigious Ford Australia awards for sales. In mid-1980, Torque Ford was struggling financially and local business identity Darrell Butcher was tempted from an early retirement to purchase Torque Ford from Bryan Wood and the late Allan Piper. Butcher took over the business on 16th December 1980. The timing for him was fortunate in that the motor industry market rebounded in early 1981, particularly for Ford with the release of the KA Laser. The market boomed and Bob structured a formidable team around him to take advantage of the market. Sleepy Torque Ford, previously averaging around 40 new cars a month, leapt to national prominence consistently selling nearly 100 new cars a month and becoming a force in the Ford market. From 1986 Torque Ford was named as the Ford Australia National Dealer of the Year 6 times in 7 years, a record which is still unsurpassed today.
In May 1988 Butcher bought the Toyota franchise for Redcliffe and Bob was charged with relocating it to a site at Kippa-Ring and setting up the sales operations. Business escalated for Bob and Torque Toyota. In 1990, ever on the acquisition trail Butcher took over the business of Lloyd Ford at Strathpine and shortly after Metro Ford in Brisbane. Being responsible for the new car operations, Bob was running 4 dealerships, with a team of over 100 sales and support employees, selling almost 500 new cars per month in a market that was struggling. All dealerships prospered under Bob’s management. In 1998, after a disagreement with Butcher over the direction of the business, Bob went back to his passion – selling. Back to his fleet clients and personal customers and developed a massive portfolio of customers selling with a single support person, over 500 new cars a year for the next two years.
In early 2000 looking for the next step in his automotive career, Bob was approached by Paul Norris of the Norris Motor Group to join him in the buyout of Redcliffe Mitsubishi and Suzuki in Anzac Avenue. From July 1st 2000 to June 30th 2012, Northstar continued from strength to strength, winning numerous national awards from both Mitsubishi and Suzuki. In 2003, Chrysler Australia appointed Northstar as their newest Chrysler Jeep dealership, later adding Dodge to the brand line-up. With increasing sales, service and replacement parts sales, the company purchased the present Kippa-Ring site (formerly the Toyota dealership that Bob had run) and relocated the business in late 2007. Northstar Chrysler Jeep Dodge is one of the largest dealers for that brand in Australia, and has been awarded the Chrysler Australia Provincial Dealer of the Year on no less than 4 occasions – consecutively from 2007 to 2010 and won the Chrysler Jeep Dodge Northern Region Metro Dealer of the Year in 2012.
Renault was added to the growing Northstar presence in 2005 and Citroen in early 2008. When Isuzu Ute approached the company in late 2008 to take on the franchise for North Brisbane – Northstar Isuzu Ute was born. During the Global Financial Crisis of 2008/09 the directors of Northstar looked closely of all aspects of their business model and regrettably both Citroen and Renault were considered too risky to retain in the business. As volumes of vehicles declined sharply in Australia, these two brands came under immense pressure not only at Northstar but Australia wide.
Accordingly Northstar handed back the franchises in early 2009, but less than 6 months later, as the crisis started to ease, Northstar was approached by Volkswagen Group Australia to become a Volkswagen passenger and commercial dealer – that brand returning to Redcliffe for the first time since 1982. Volkswagen is in a strong growth phase in Australia and the company was honoured to become their newest franchisee in Australia. A brand new dealership, in fact the first new dealership Bob had been a part of was completed in April 2010.
Early in 2012, Bob decided that his business interests again had taken a path of diversion and on June 30th separated from the Norris Motor Group. Norris retained the Mitsubishi and Suzuki business whilst Bob and Suzi took over the Chrysler group franchises, Isuzu Ute and Volkswagen. August 1st 2012 saw Mahindra, the Indian manufacturer added at a new site at Rothwell (Northstar Mahindra) and discussions opened for the re-development of the vehicle storage yard at Clontarf to accommodate a new state of the art service department. Northstar was appointed as the Fiat Alfa Romeo dealer in February 2014. Another milestone was the opening of a new branch at Moryafield (Opposite Bunnings Warehouse) on April 1st 2013. This branch presents Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Alfa Romeo, Mahindra and Isuzu Ute for the northern part of the Northstar prime market area, including Bribie Island.
In late 2015, due to financial pressures and the underperforming Fiat Chrysler brands, Bob and Suzi sold the business completely to former Toyota dealer Greg Eastment. Bob founded Car Business and located to a property already owned by his family to 226 Anzac Avenue Kippa-Ring.
Car Business is a multi-dimensional automotive company that aims to help you to buy your new car for a better price than you can do on your own. Based on the Redcliffe Peninsula about 15 minutes from Brisbane Airport and 30 minutes from the Brisbane CBD, Car Business is located in an area that allows us to pick and choose from Brisbane’s finest new cars for sale.
Bob has slowly formed a trusted Brisbane company that specializes in many facets of the car business including:
- New Car Buyers Agents / Advocates
- Late Model Used Cars
- Price Range Second Hand Cars
- Local Area Marketing for Small Business
- Finance and Insurance
- Genuine Spare Parts for Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Volkswagen and Isuzu Ute
- Merchandise specializing in Jeep and Mopar
- Vehicle Car Care using:
- Williams F1 Ceramic Paint and Interior Protection
- AutoGard Vehicle Protection and SunX window Film Products
- Vehicle Accessories Including all new Apple Car Play
- Accessories for off Road Vehicles
- Bull Bars, Tow Bars, Side Steps, Canopies, Tub Liners, Spot Lights
- Alloy Wheels
- New and Near new Tyres at Discount Prices
- Quality Service for Your Car
The ‘go to’ Brisbane car buying agents, Car Business, is so much better than a car broker – first and foremost, Car Business is an experienced Car Buyer’s Advocacy service. Our experienced staffs will stand alongside you, and act on your behalf to help you buy your new car at a better price than you can directly through new car dealers.
We’ll be YOUR CAR BUYING AGENT, asking the right questions and finding you the RIGHT new car at the BEST price around! We’re different from a car broker in that we’re not paid by dealers for getting our clients to buy a car from their dealership. Our car advocacy service is provided solely to our client (not on behalf of any car dealer or group) and as your agent, and with us working on your behalf, our fee is payable by you. HOWEVER – Car Business will always advise our fee to you up front, and if we can’t save you more than our fee with your new car purchase, you don’t pay ANYTHING. And that’s the Car Business promise to you.
Bob has a passion for golf, for community enterprise and was a founding director of the Australian Technical College – North Brisbane. He has previously sat on the management committees for the Redcliffe and North Lakes Golf Clubs, achieved his restricted light plane pilot’s license and now enjoys his 2 motorbikes (Victory Hammer & a 1975 Ducati 860GT) on weekends.
From a motor industry viewpoint, he is the former chairman of the Suzuki Dealer Advertising Group, former chairman of the Suzuki Northern Region Dealer Council, sat on the after sales sub-committee for the Mitsubishi Motors Australia National Dealer Council and served as the Chairman and Queensland delegate for the Chrysler Jeep Dodge National Dealer Council. He holds a Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment, A Diploma in Management, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Commissioner for Declarations entitlement again demonstrating his community focus.
Bob is married to Suzi and lives locally at Woody Point. His daughters, educated locally and at St Rita’s College Clayfield, reside in Switzerland and Brisbane respectively. Kristin, now 33, moved to Switzerland to work during her gap year, fell in love with the country and married a local businessman. Three grandchildren, Alexandra (11) and Dylan (9) and Zoey (2 ) have expanded the Aldons clan internationally. Melinda, now 31, has forged a career with the Queensland Government but is presently on an extended working holiday with her partner Simon in Canada.
Bob Aldons is recognised for his totally committed approach to “hands on” management and total quality customer service. His high personal profile and his passion towards continually striving for excellence at all levels makes him a recognised business person throughout Queensland.
Website: www.carbusiness.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carbusinessqld
